'A lot of people are here from Kashmir': Another controversial statement by Shahid Afridi at World T20

Mohali: Even as the dust settles over his "we got more love in India" comment, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi raked up another controversy on Tuesday when he remarked that "a lot of people are here from Kashmir" before the start of their World T20 game against New Zealand at PCA Stadium.

Pakistan came into the match after suffering a defeat to arch-rival India in their previous group game in Kolkata.

Shahid Afridi in the match against New Zealand. Solaris Images

As a section of the crowd cheered him at the toss, former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja asked if he and his team had support from the spectators here, Afridi said that "a lot of people are here from Kashmir".

"Yes, a lot of people, a lot of people are here from Kashmir as well. And I want to thank people of Kolkata, they really support us as well," Afridi said at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium here just before the start of the Pakistan versus New Zealand group match.

"It seems you have a bit of fan following here in Mohali," Raja remarked after Afridi lost the toss. Pakistan looked to have support from the crowd as they cheered the boundaries scored by them.

A lot of young crowd, including school students, have come from Jammu and Kashmir to watch the match.

Afridi had found himself in the centre of a controversy a few days back when he stated that the Pakistani cricket team got more love in India than in Pakistan. The statement led to Afridi's criticism in Pakistan, especially from former cricketers like Javed Miandad and Mohsin Khan.